Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-03-04

Monsieur, fear, does not speak the
French. / have the honor. 1 believe,
of addressing Mr.. Dalreemp. l am
covered with contrition at intruding at
this evening hour, but l know that
Mrs. Dalreempi is much out in the day."
do you wish to see her2 Have you
seen her?" asked he.
IL wait now to see her." replied
Madame
Another of these millincr people, l
suppose" thought Mr.. Dalrymple to
himself, with not at all a polite word in
connection with the supposition. Sc
lina's mad to have the house beset
with them like q swarm of flies. If she
comes to town next year, may
be-" He did not say what, but
went to the door and raised his voice.
Ann! tell your mistress she is want
II can't find my mistress. SIR" said
the servant, coming downstairs. II
thought she must be in her room, but
she is not. l am sure she is not gone
out, because she said she meant to
have quiet evening at home tonight,
and she is not dressed"
''She is somewhere about" said Mr..
Dalrymple. Go and look for her."
Mime. Damereau had been coming to
the rapid conclusion that this was an
opportunity she should do injustice to
herself to omit using. And as Mr. Dali
rymple was about to leave her to her.
self, she stopped him.
''Sir-parden me-but now that
have the happiness to see you, may
ask if you will not use your influence
with Mrs. Dalrymple to think of my
account. She does promise so often,
and get nothing. l have my heavy
payments to make, and sometimes l
do not know where to find the money;
though, if you saw nv books, your
head would bristle, sir, at the sums ow.
ing to me-"
"You are-p"
81 am Mime. Damereau. If Mrs.
Dalreemp would but give me few hum
dreds of her bill it would be some
thing"
A few hundreds! Oscar Dalrymple
! wondered what she meant. He looked
at her for some moments before he
spoke.
"What is the amount of my wife's
debt to you?''
"Ah, it is-but / can not tell you
| quite exactly. The last bill went in to
her was four thousand and twenty-five
| pounds"
He had an impossible face, rarely
showing emotion. 1t had probably not
been moved to it half dozen times in
the course of his life. But now his lips
gradually drew away from his teeth,
leaving the gums exposed, and red
spot appeared upon each check.
"What did you sayp How muchP"
-Four thousand and TWENTY-FIVE
pounds" equally answered Madame,
who was not familiar with his counte-
nance. "And there have been few
trifles since, and her last order this
week will come to ninety pounds. II
you wish for it, exactly, SIR" added
Madame, catching at an idea of hope,
81 will have it sent in to you when l go
home. Mrs. Dalreemp has the details
up to very recently"
-Four thousand pounds!" uttered
MIR. Dalrymple. in sort of paralyzed
manner. when could she have con-
| tracted it?"
Last season, sir. A little in the win
ter she had. and little this spring; not
| much"
He did not say more, save a mutter
which Madame could not catch. She
understood it to be that he would speak
to Mrs. Dalrymple. The maid re-
turned. protesting that her mistress
was not in the house, and must have
changed her mind and gone out; and
Nine. Damereau, thinking she might
be gone out for the evening, and that
it was Of no use waiting, made her adieu
to Mr.. Dalrymple with the remarkable
courtesy several times repeated.
He was sitting there still, in the same
position, when his wife appeared. She
had entered the house stealthily, as
she had left it, had taken off her
things. and now came into the room
ready for tea, a. If she had only been
upstairs to wash her hands. Scarcely
had she reached the middle of the room,
when he rose and laid his hand heavily
on her shoulder. His face, as she
turned to him in alarm, with its drawn
aspect, its glistening eyes, its mingled
pallor and hectic, was so changed that
she could hardly recognize it for his.
A fear crossed her that he had gone
mad. oscar, you terrify mer' she
shrieked out.
What debts are these that you
owep" he Kissed, from between his
parted lips.
Was the dreaded moment come, then!
She shook in his grasp, and low moan
escaped her.
"Four thousand pounds to Dame
reau, the milliner! How much more
to others?"
"Oh, Oscar, if you look and speak
like that, you will kill me-" she uttered
Forgive me this, and my life's repent
ance shall atone for it.
Il ask how much MORE" he repeat
ed, passing by her entreaty as the idle
wind. ''Tell me the truth, or 1 will
thrust you from my home and adver-
tise you"
She strove to sink down to hide her
face on the ground; she would certain.
ly have sunk there but for his powerful
grasp. He shook her roughly by the
arm. and repeated the question: 'How
aSix thousand pounds-in all
about that. Not more. I think"
He flung her arm from him with
jerk, and she sank down on the carpet
with her face on the sofa, and sobbed
and moaned.
"Are you prepared to 60 out and
work for your living as l must doe" he
painted. II have nothing to keep you
on. and shall not have for years. II
they throw me into q debtors prison
tomorrow. to languish there, l can not
help it."
do not reproach me-" she moaned;
II have suffered much. You have told
me was restless, as one who had COM
mitted q crime; you know now what
the crime has BEEN"
"Tou suffer!' he scornfully ejacu-
lated. when up to this time, this
very week, you have been augmenting
your debt recklessly! Stop your dis
play Of tears; crocodiles can shed
them"
She only sobbed the more.
II was a fool to marry into your
branch of the family" he went on,
stamping his foot, .'for a mania at